One hospital trust last week announced a 'pause' its controversial MyChoice scheme after an outcry. But Warrington is not alone in expanding such self-pay schemes. What's going on?
The NHS promises yet more mythical savings to unlock a few crumbs from the Chancellor's red box. Meanwhile its deficit soars to Greek levels – and the shadow of more NHS charges stalks the policy corridors…
We bear powerless witness to mountain massacres, to bombs raining on life-saving hospitals. But does our compassion evaporate when those fleeing such strife reach our borders in steel containers?
The question of NHS 'affordability' is used by think tanks and politicians to browbeat us into accepting regressive changes that suit the few, not the many. Better options to save money are ignored.
The private health insurance industry has been trying to get think tanks to help it make money in Britain for the last 10 years. Is today's report by Reform calling for NHS charges the result?
Reform - the think tank that provided David Cameron with his lead health advisor - is trying to resuscitate discredited policies on NHS charging in England and introduce some dangerous new ideas to boot.
The new Immigration Bill introduces hefty charges for migrants to use the NHS. It is a costly, wrong-headed insult to the migrants - like my father - on whom the NHS has always relied.
